PBS Snaps Power Connections to Deep Tubewells
Cropland drying up, villagers deprived of drinking water
Palli Bidyut Samity-I has snapped power connections to 74 deep tubewells, threatening crops in five upazilas of Dinajpur following a dispute over payment of bills. The photo was taken from Gopalganj in Sadar upazila.Photo: STAR
Around 10 thousand acres of cropland in five upazilas under the district is drying and thousands of people are denied pure drinking water as Dinajpur Palli Bidyut Samity-1 (PBS-1) has snapped power connections to 74 deep tube wells under Barind Multilateral Development Authority (BMDA). The action, following a dispute over payment of additional bills claimed by Dinajpur PBS-1 upon their 'no load loss' plan, triggered resentment among the farmers as it has started affecting the winter vegetables and crops including broccoli and famous kathari rice during the season. Preparation of the lands for the next cultivation is also hampered. Sources of BMDA in Dinajpur said they have PBS power connections with 683 deep tube-wells in seven upazilas under Dinajpur PBS-1 but the latter has snapped power supply of 74 deep tube-wells -- 23 in Birganj, 28 in Khansama, seven each in Chirirbandar and Biral, and nine in Dinajpur Sadar upazila since October 31. As the PBS will snap more connections to realise the additional bills, BMDA authorities have directed the committees concerned to pull down the transformers attached to the deep tube wells, meaning 'no use' of the electricity, sources said. On August 26 this year, BMDA sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of Dinajpur, informing that Dinajpur PBS-1 added an additional 186-unit charge with the regular bill for each deep tube well. "The Dinajpur PBS-1 authorities claimed to have made effective the 'No load loss' basis power bill from July 2012 although the PBS in other districts including neighbouring Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat did not impose any such bills," reads the letter. Even Dinajpur PBS-2 that covers six other upazilas of the district did not impose the additional bills, BMDA sources said. Each deep tube well covers around 100 acres of land and supplies pure drinking water for 86 families in the area, said Md Mizanur Rahman, assistant engineer of Barind in Dinajpur Sadar upazila. Reza Md Nure Alam, executive engineer of Dinajpur BMDA, said, "BMDA, which have been playing a vital role in country's agricultural sector, is also the largest power consumer of PBS. But it seems to have fallen victim of conspiracy. At least 10,000 acres of lands have been affected due to the recent snapping of power connections by Dinajpur PBS-1. We cannot pay the additional charges as there is no decision at the top level in this regard." When contacted, Kazi Mohammad Ali, general manager of Dinajpur PBS-1, said, "We are implementing the decision of the higher authorities."
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